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Maplewood father arrested in fatal shooting of son

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting Maplewood investigors on the case, where a father apparently shot his son during a disagreement Monday. (Kaitlyn Roby/Review)

Maplewood investigators and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating a Monday incident in which an 84-year-old father apparently shot and killed his 36-year-old son at their Maplewood home in the 1800 block of East County Road B. (Kaitlyn Roby/Review)

Neighbors and passersby watched a two-hour standoff end between police and an 84-year-old man, who reportedly barricaded himself in a bedroom after allegedly shooting his 36-year-old son at their Maplewood home. The father was transported to Regions Hospital with stab wounds that police say were self-inflicted. (Kaitlyn Roby/Review)

Maplewood investigators and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension inspect the scene at the Maplewood home of Chue Vang, 36, who was allegedly shot and killed by his father, Pang Vang, 84, inside the house earlier Monday. (Kaitlyn Roby/Review)

Police anticipate filing charges

The Maplewood man who is suspected of shooting and killing his son Monday, March 24, has been arrested.

Pang Vang, 84, allegedly shot his son, Chue Vang, 36, during a disagreement. After police were called, Pang Vang barricaded himself in a bedroom, and stabbed himself in the chest and neck during a two-hour standoff with police.

He received treatment at Regions Hospital. Police took him into custody on Wednesday, March 26, after his condition improved.

Maplewood police received a report just before noon March 24 that someone had been shot at a home in the 1800 block of East County Road B. The house is less than 200 feet from Maplewood City Hall, which houses the police department.

After officers arrived, other family members, including another adult son, a young child and the wife of Pang Vang, exited the home.

The elderly suspect reportedly cut himself with a knife, and refused to come out. According to Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell, the shotgun that was used in the shooting was not in the bedroom with Pang Vang.

Because family members said there were other weapons in the home, the Ramsey County SWAT Team was summoned. Maplewood and SWAT personnel eventually entered the house.

The father and son were then both taken from the home on stretchers at about 2 p.m.

Chue Vang was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was transported to the Ramsey County medical examiner's office, where his death from a shotgun wound to the chest was ruled a homicide, according to a police statement.

Pang Vang, who was found conscious, was transported to the hospital. Schnell said the father had lost a "substantial amount of blood," but the wounds were not life-threatening.

Family dispute preceded fatal shooting

Pang Vang hasn't had previous run-ins with police, according to Schnell, but the father's relatives told police he had "made threatening comments towards family members" in the past.

During the investigation, Schnell said Pang Vang did not say much about the dispute. He said the argument apparently was about family business, including finances.

"The hard part is that none of the explanations that the investigators heard gave any indication of this violent of response," Schnell said.

Schnell said Pang Vang's mental health has not been assessed, but family members denied he had a history of psychological issues.

Schnell said investigators submitted the case to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office on Wednesday.

"While the suspect's arrest and transfer to custody is fitting and appropriate, the conclusion is not likely to bring solace to the family who lost a son, brother, and uncle to a senseless act of violence," Schnell said in a statement.

Chue Vang's death is the city's first homicide in 2014.

Kaitlyn Roby can be reached at 651-748-7814 and kroby@lillienews.com. Follow her at twitter.com/KRobyNews.